NEWSLETTER 2 -- autumn 1999

Mediterranean Development Forum: this is the biggest gathering of development professionals in the region and Jemstone is again working with the World Bank to ensure that the media plays a leading role, as we did at MDF2 in Marrakech in autumn 1998. MDF3 will take place in Cairo from 5^th to 8th March 2000, on the theme 'Voices for change -- partners for prosperity'. There is space for 100 senior journalists and media figures, both to cover the forum and to take part in it. E-mail or fax for details.

Heads of Network Partners: we hope to hold a Jemstone Network Evaluation Meeting for senior editors in Cairo on 4th March, just before MDF3, as we did before MDF2. We would be discussing how to build on the achievements of Med Media to support the region's media. Contact us if you want to attend or have items for the agenda.

Global Knowledge Partnership: GKP is an informal worldwide grouping of private sector companies, development agencies, governments, ngos and others seeking ways to narrow the knowledge gap between rich and poor -- www.globalknowledge.org. Jemstone is a partner and we are working to ensure that journalists play a leading role at the GKII conference, in Malaysia in March 2000. Contact us now for more information.

** Urgent: journalists interested in the environment. Jemstone has been asked to recruit participants for a workshop in Capri early next month on 'Environment and Development in the Mediterranean Region'. This is not a Jemstone event but the Jemstone Director has been invited as an expert. The workshop, fully funded by the European Commission, is open to any journalists (or press officers) who are concerned about environmental issues. Time is very short. If you want to attend then e-mail or fax us today -- we need your name, your passport number, your organisation and a page on why you want to take part.

Guidelines for investigative journalism: after our 'independent journalism' workshop in Amman, funded by the Dutch Minster of Development and Co-operation, Jemstone is producing a short booklet for journalists working in the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean. Please let us know if you would like a copy. It will be a practical guide on how to investigate a story, the legal and human rights framework, how to overcome obstacles to more in-depth journalism etc. It will also be on our web-site. We hope to run follow-up events next year in Yemen, Egypt and the Palestinian territories. They would be intensive four-day workshops requiring total commitment from the participants working closely with up to half a dozen experts on various aspects of in-depth journalism. Each workshop would be in Arabic and English. Contact us for more details.

TV News for young people: we are now in discussion with several organisations (both possible funders and commercial sponsors) about creating a weekly Arabic-language news and current affairs programme for young people. Contact brenda@jemstone.net

We need a tri-lingual (Arabic/English/French) journalist to work with us in Cairo in late February and early March at MDF3. Contact tudor@jemstone.net

tl/18/11/99